Chapter 5
However, if there is one thing that can provide comfort in these trying times—
It is that Crazy:B and Knights have formed an alliance.
Yup! Thanks, Kohaku-chan ♪
Huh? Whatcha talking about? What about Kohaku-chan?
Even if it’s normal for you to not understand a thing that’s going on, you could at least not make me explain everything over and over, ‘kay?
It’s ‘cause I don’t care about idols and wars and stuff… But if it’s Kohaku-chan we’re talking about, I’m all ears.
Fufu. The other day, when everyone’s orders were revealed…
Knights noticed that we were going through a hard time and offered to assist us.
They wanted to cooperate with other ES idols and move as one—So they said.
Y–yes, that’s right. Because we are comrades; we must not allow ourselves to be divided in this harsh climate.
Comrades, huh—
Ufufu, Tsukasa-chan was just worried about his family. Kohaku-chan, right?
He’s totally playing favorites with his family. Well, I’m sure it’s only natural to want to protect your blood relatives, and it’s definitely Knights’s style to make our own circumstances top priority.
Th–that’s not true. I was only trying to be fair and make a decision based on our future—
Reeeally? It’s fine~ There’s no shame in letting your true colors show, y’know ♪
I’m telling the truth! Why are you looking at me like you’ve just seen a baby crawling around for the first time? Stop that!
Awww, look at you~ Crawwin’ awound wike a big boy~… ♪
Arrgh, go any further than that and I’ll consider it an affront against me!
Haha, the little King of Knights, huh? Big name for such a little kid. Actually, I’d say you’re closer to Niki’s position in our little circle, don’tcha think?
Huh? That’d just make him a little worker bee, right?!
More like the guy we all love to love ♪
Or, if you put a negative spin on it, the guy we love to pick on.
Wait, that’s totally what a bully would say?! “I’m not attacking you~ I’m just playing~” Do you really think people’re gonna buy that?
(It’s true that that person, Shiina-senpai, is someone with whom I can sympathize.)
(No matter how earnestly I say something, It’s written off as a joke, and they use it to tease me. I’m generally considered inferior to the other members.)
(Even now, after I’ve received my crown and taken my seat on the throne.)
… ♪
…The reason I proposed an alliance with you is simply because I could not overlook the injustice.
The oddities occurring within the Kansai region at present are similar to Crazy:B’s tactics of exposing others’ secrets in order to weaken them.
I’m sure you remember the acts of terrorism you committed over the summer.
Now they’re calling it terrorism.
Yeah? What else would you call it, huh?
Just a little kid throwin’ a tantrum? We’re past the age to be makin’ excuses like that, ain’t we?
Well, it is true that Crazy:B has a criminal past. So it’s reasonable for us to be suspicious of you.
Yes. And for that reason everyone was so hasty to suspect Crazy:B.
They all assumed this was your doing, since you are the so-called “bad guys.”
But it is not very elegant to doubt others without proof of any kind.
That is mere discrimination—or, as you’ve often said, a witch hunt.
It’s as you say.
I dunno, I get the feeling it was more like Suu~chan’s patent specialty of losing his temper and blaming others without any evidence to back him up ♪
I am still growing, too. I’ve shown unsightly parts of myself countless times, and I’ve learned my lesson just as many times.
So I refuse to repeat that mistake. Not this time.
They are innocent until proven guilty. Is that not the fundamental principle on which the law is built?
Yeah, it is. …But if we’re as powerful as we are right now, it should be easy as cake to turn something white into something black.
Of course, if you do something that heretical, you’d be just like Ecchan. For the record, “just like Ecchan” in our industry (?) is the worst insult someone can give.
By Ecchan, you’re talking about Tenshouin-onii-sama, correct? If one could be like him, would that not be a wonderful thing?
Ehh~… At the very least I would never wanna be like Ecchan. Maybe even more than how I don’t wanna be like Anija.
Fufu. I’m sure everyone has the desire to be like the person they admire.
I, for one, have always longed to be a splendid idol like my onii-samas in Knights.
The reason I try to follow justice as the King of Knights is because I wish to become someone I can take pride in.
This is why I’ve extended a hand to Crazy:B! It is certainly not because of Oukawa, understood?!
No, it is one hundred percent certain that it’s because of Oukawa… There is no proof that we are the culprits, but there is also no proof that we’re not the culprits.
And yet, you reached out to us based on groundless belief—You can’t argue that it’s simply that your personal feelings moved you.
It’s not my personal feelings; it’s my conviction! As knights who protect the weak, we offer salvation to all those who are accused wrongfully and trampled upon!
Because that is who we are!